Ranking Every Final Fantasy By Their Soundtrack

Final Fantasy IX OST: Tracks - 110, Composer(s) - Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy IX OST PLUS: Tracks - 42, Composer(s) - Nobuo Uematsu

After the serious affairs that were Final Fantasies VII and VIII, Square decided to go back to their fantasy roots with Final Fantasy IX, delivering a beautifully crafted world populated by a colourful cast of characters. The storyline was second to none, whilst Nobuo Uematsu worked twelve hour days to singlehandedly put together 152 pieces of music that were released across two albums - a monumental feat given that he had less than a year to do so and the fact that a significant number of additional tracks were cut.

This considerable volume works for and against the game, as whilst several tracks are up there with Uematsu's greatest ever compositions, others are dull in places. The good vastly outweigh the bad, however, and the opening hours certainly kick off in style with tracks like 'A Place To Call Home', 'Swords Of Fury', 'Vamo Allo Flamenco' and 'Tragic Love'.

Later on, key sequences are accompanied by masterpieces such as 'Something To Protect', 'Light Of Destiny' and 'Not Alone', the latter of which scores perhaps the game's greatest scene as leading man Zidane realises his dependence on his friends. The ending is also a highlight from a musical standpoint, as 'Inseparable Hearts' epitomises the love that he and Garnet share.

Elsewhere, multiple locations (such as Burmecia, Memoria and Black Mage Village) warrant revisiting time and time again for their background music, whilst several members of the cast are the recipients of masterpiece character themes, including Beatrix ('Roses Of May'), Kuja and Eiko. The former two are also well served by their unique battle themes, 'The Wavering Blade' and 'Darkness Of Eternity' respectively.